San Diego at Atlanta

The San Diego Padres were nowhere near contending last season, but they went out and spent some money to get some bats in the lineup. They are starting to get some dividends as they have surged forward the last two weeks, and trail the Dodgers by just 3.5 games in the NL West. San Diego has won 9 of their last 13. Atlanta is in a rebuilding mode, and after a 5-0 start have tailed off, playing eight games under .500 since. Atlanta has not fared well in the role of a small-to-medium sized dog, as they are 1-6 in their last seven as a dog from +110 to +150. The Padres have cleaned up against poor pitching, logging a 36-17 record in their last 53 vs. a pitcher with a WHIP of greater than 1.30, and they have also won seven straight behind Shields. Back the road team in this one.